ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif Tuesday briefed the federal cabinet on US President Trump’s statement in which he lambasted Pakistan for “offering safe havens to agents of chaos”. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the meeting of the federal cabinet. The cabinet approved appointment of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Ltd (PIACL) chief executive officer for a probationary period of 90 days with 2-year contract. The cabinet directed the Aviation Division secretary to ensure submission of a business plan for profitability of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) within 60 days of the appointment of the PIACL chief executive officer. The cabinet also accorded approval to increasing and re-fixing of the number of commissioners in the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan to seven. Approval was given to exempt grants from taxes / duties received from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). Maximum retail prices of life saving drugs were approved and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Division was assigned the task to ensure availability of quality life saving drugs within reasonable pricing to the common people in commensurate with the national drug policy. Execution and completion of ongoing gas development schemes and launch of new projects to provide gas to far-flung areas was also approved. Moreover, the cabinet approved initiation of negotiations on an agreement between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, government of Pakistan and the government of Republic of Nigeria on cooperation in the field of oil and gas.
Published in Daily Times, August 23rd 2017.
